Progression Requirements (Undergraduate)

To remain in satisfactory academic standing, full-time students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 while completing a total number of credit hours that produces an average of at least 24 semester hours for each year of full-time enrollment. Students must complete the following: 24 hours within one year 48 hours within two years 72 hours within three years 96 hours within four yearsThe full-time semester equivalent for a student who has been enrolled on a part-time basis will be determined by total hours attempted. Grade point average is determined based on credit hours of all coursework for which a student remains enrolled beyond the course drop deadline (see Course Add/Drop Policy) and for which a grade has been recorded. Any student with a semester grade point average or a cumulative grade point average that drops below 2.00 is subject to Academic Probation and Suspension procedures. The purpose of these procedures is as early as possible to identify, warn, and provide assistance to students who do not maintain their academic standing.

While satisfactory academic standing is not evaluating credit hours passed each semester, students must understand that to graduate in a typical four-year time frame, an average of 15 semester hours is needed to reach 120 credit hours.

ACADEMIC PROBATION and SUSPENSION Any students unable to maintain a semester and/or a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 are in danger of not maintaining their academic standing, and will be subject to one of four status levels in the Academic Probation and Suspension Process: Warning, Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal. Students will be notified as soon as a change in academic status occurs.

Academic WarningAcademic Warning is the least severe level in the Academic Probation and Suspension process and does not appear on a student’s official academic record, although a student’s faculty mentor is notified. Students that are placed on Academic Warning are considered to be in satisfactory academic standing. Academic Warning is issued to students who meet any one or more of the following criteria:

upon admission do not meet regular admission requirements but fulfill minimum admission requirements

after completion of one semester on campus, have a semester GPA between 1.00 (inclusive) and below 2.00

have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above but have earned a semester GPA below 2.00

fail to achieve a passing grade in 50% of the courses that they officially attempted

Academic Warning serves as an opportunity to address any academic difficulties with the goal of preventing a student from being placed on Academic Probation. Students on Academic Warning are encouraged to work with academic mentors and the Academic and Career Support Center staff to develop a remediation plan and determine necessary referrals to campus resources.

At the end of the semester in which a student is placed on Academic Warning, the student will either:

Be removed from Warning status by raising their cumulative GPA to 2.00 or above

Continue on Academic Warning for up to two additional semesters by earning a semester GPA of 2.00 or above, but failing to raise the cumulative GPA above 2.00

Continue on Academic Warning by earning less than a 2.00 semester GPA but maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above

Be placed on Academic Probation by earning less than a 2.00 semester GPA and maintaining a cumulative GPA below 2.00

A student may remain on Academic Warning for up to a total of three consecutive semesters if in each Warning semester the student earns a semester GPA of 2.00 or above. If, after the third semester, the cumulative GPA remains below 2.00, the student will be placed on Academic Probation.

Academic ProbationAcademic Probation is an indication of serious academic difficulty that may ultimately lead to suspension or dismissal from the University. Probation appears on a student’s official academic record. Students on Academic Probation are required to complete a Plan for Academic Improvement, described below, which must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office on or before the official Course Add/Drop deadline for that semester. A student on probation may be required to take a reduced academic load, enroll in remedial coursework, and reduced co-curricular and/or extra-curricular participation. A student on probation may be required to reduce his/her campus employment. Academic Probation is issued to students who:

have a cumulative GPA below 2.00 and a semester GPA below 2.00 after completing two or more semesters on campus

have a cumulative GPA that remains below 2.00 after completing three semesters on Academic Warning

Plan for Academic ImprovementStudents on Academic Probation must complete a Plan for Academic Improvement by the Add/Drop deadline for each semester of probation. This plan should demonstrate what steps the student will take to return to satisfactory academic standing, or a cumulative GPA above 2.00. Students are encouraged to work with faculty mentors and the Academic and Career Support Center staff while constructing their plans. Within five business days after final grades have been submitted for a completed probationary semester, students must also submit electronically to the Registrar’s Office (registrar@heidelberg.edu) a personal statement reflecting on the success of the Plan for Academic Improvement. Students must also request a faculty member submit a statement describing the student’s potential for future success at Heidelberg. The Plan for Academic Improvement and supporting letters are documentation of a student’s commitment to achieving satisfactory academic standing. Lack of such documentation may lead to a student’s dismissal from the University.

At the end of the semester in which a student is on Academic Probation, the student will either:

1. Be removed from Academic Probation by earning a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above2. Continue on Academic Probation by earning a semester GPA of at least 2.00 but maintaining a cumulative GPA less than 2.003. Be subject to Academic Suspension by failing to earn a semester GPA of 2.00 or above

Academic SuspensionAcademic Suspension is an indicator of severe academic difficulty and appears on a student’s academic record. Academic Suspension allows a student time to reassess academic and career goals, and/or resolve other causes for continued academic failure. Students on Academic Suspension may not take courses or participate in any extracurricular or co-curricular activities at Heidelberg University. Academic Suspension is issued to students who meet one or more of the following criteria:

earn a first semester GPA below 1.00

earn a semester GPA below 2.00 while on Academic Probation

show indifference to their studies while on Academic Probation, as evidenced by, but not limited to, such behavior as failure to prepare for class, irregular class attendance, failure to complete assignments, etc.

Students wishing to resume their academic program at Heidelberg University following an Academic Suspension must follow the Academic Reinstatement procedures described below. Students may apply for reinstatement to Heidelberg University one full semester after a first Academic Suspension. After a second Academic Suspension, students must wait one year before applying for reinstatement. Any student earning a third suspension will be subject to Academic Dismissal.

Academic DismissalStudents who are issued Academic Dismissal may not enroll in any programs offered by Heidelberg University. Academic Dismissal is issued to students who meet either of the following criteria:

have been issued Academic Suspension on two occasions and do not complete reinstatement criteria after completing the second suspension

are suspended a third time

Students may only return to Heidelberg University under the conditions outlined by the University’s Fresh Start Policy.

Academic ReinstatementStudents wishing to return to the University after a suspension must submit a Reinstatement from Suspension form (available from the Registrar’s Office) to the Academic Policy Committee no later than fifteen business days prior to the first class day of the reinstatement semester. Students must also submit any transcripts for academic work completed at institutions other than Heidelberg while on suspension. Students may receive reinstatement conditions such as testing, advising, counseling, additional coursework, or other activities deemed necessary by the Academic Policy Committee (or their designee).

In the event of reinstatement, a student is automatically placed on Academic Probation and must complete the Plan for Academic Improvement described above. The Plan should include all of the reinstatement conditions deemed necessary. Failure to fulfill the Plan after reinstatement may result in dismissal.

Students who withdraw from the University while on probation or are serving a suspension are encouraged to enroll in college courses during their time away and then reapply to Heidelberg. Students who elect to attend a different institution may be placed under Academic Warning upon return to Heidelberg if transcripts from the other institution(s) meet Heidelberg’s criteria to remove probation.

APPEAL OF ACADEMIC SUSPENSION or DISMISSALReinstatement without serving a suspension is rare. However, mitigating circumstances may appropriately call for an appeal. Students seeking to appeal an Academic Suspension or Dismissal must submit to the Academic Policy Committee an Appeal of Academic Suspension form (available from the Registrar’s Office) including any documentation in support of mitigating circumstances no later than ten business days prior to the first class day of the semester of Academic Suspension or Dismissal. While the appeal is under review, students may not enroll in classes or participate in extra- or co-curricular.

In the event of a successful appeal, a student will automatically be placed on Academic Probation and must complete the Plan for Academic Improvement described above. Failure to submit or fulfill a Plan for Academic Improvement after an appeal will result in dismissal.